Wendigo Rising

Yancy Lazarus #3

by James A. Hunter

Bigfoot is real. Yancy Lazarus—mage, bluesman, and rambler—knows because there happens to be a nine-foot-tall, walking myth standing in the road, flagging him down.

Yancy just can’t escape his reputation as a supernatural Fix-it man even when cruising through the forgotten backwoods of Montana. Turns out Bigfoot has a serious problem on his hands: one of his own has gone rogue, developing a taste for the flesh of humans and Sasquatch alike. A greater Wendigo has risen for the first time in thousands of years and if Yancy can’t stop the creature it could be a slaughter for the residents of a rural Montana town.

But even with the monstrous threat looming on the horizon, Yancy has bigger fish to fry. He’s working as an agent of Fate, attempting to put the kibosh on a nefarious scheme, aimed at upsetting the tenuous balance between the supernatural nations. When your boss is Lady Luck, however, nothing is ever left to chance, and his two cases may have more in common than it appears. If he can’t figure out the missing link it could usher in a new world order: an age of inhuman creatures and walking nightmares … one where Yancy Lazarus doesn’t exist.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Audiobook, Mystery, Magic, Paranormal

Kindle Edition

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

James Hunter is a full-time ink slinger, a member of SFWA, and the bestselling author of Vigil Bound, Rogue Dungeon, Shadowcroft Academy, Bibliomancer (The Completionist Chronicles Expanded Universe), and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online! In addition to writing, James also runs Shadow Alley Press, an industry leader that specializes in publishing LitRPG, Fantasy, and selection Science Fiction.

James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.

Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was about 20 pages into this book, and I thought to myself that I should just quit. But, since I had got this book through Netgalley, I figured I'd give it to the 30% mark. I'm glad I did. See, Yancy is way too sarcastic, and it quickly became an annoyance. But, he's also a smart aleck. I like smart alecks. There were times when I was actually laughing. Gotta love someone who makes me laugh! Also, a tiara wearing, Bigfoot Windigo? I love the mental picture! I haven't liked Urban Fantasy since Marcus Pellegrimas stopped writing his Skinners books. Mostly because there's way too much romance, and that's just a snooze fest for me. Mr. Hunter did a great job keeping me entertained with all these characters, and his lore is spot on. I liked the book so much that I downloaded his next book, and got two of them from Amazon. Yep, I'd recommend this book and author. I'll be sticking around for awhile. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yancy was in full snarky form and I wore out my highlight button noting all the fun quotes. If you are a fan of Darynda Jones’s Charlie Davidson, then Yancy Lazarus would be right up your alley. He might be able to get the senior discount at Denny’s, but he is The Fixer, one tough cookie and hard to beat. His boss is Lady Luck and if that isn’t a weird turn, then finding out the rules that govern the Hands of Fate is something to behold. “I can’t tell you this, but let me give you this super cryptic hint,” is par for the course. Yancy doesn’t save the world this time around, but he does put the smackdown on some bad guys. He also pulls in his friends to help with problem solving. Nicole Ferraro, FBI agent, former Marine and major player in this book has got personality that will not quit. She’s definitely not a shrinking violet or wilting flower, or badge4v4whatever. She will send the bad guys packing with just a look – and she’ll do it all in a suit. Go Ferraro!! Greg, Yancy’s lifetime friend, gets dragged into Yancy’s mess even though he never answered Yancy’s phone call. I guess trying to avoid a mage is more difficult than one would think. Now we come to James Sullivan. Supreme high enforcer type/law enforcement muckety-muck in the Guild. James was Yancy’s boss when Yancy worked for the Guild. They worked ops together and Yancy trusts him. Is it misplaced? Is James the bad guy? I am holding out for a firm and resounding “no” from the author, but I haven’t gotten it.

[D.J. Bodden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think if you've read a couple of James A Hunter's books by now, you've been waiting for something. Yancy's a great character, and the worlds Hunter builds are a pretty unique mix of Celtic, Greek, Native American, and other mythologies mashed together in gruesome/hilarious ways, and there is of course hefty servings of ass-kickery. But Yancy was also a someone self-indulgent emotionally immature ass, and with each book he realized it a little more but didn't quite rise to the point of doing something about it.

Well, this is it, folks. This is the moment you've been waiting for. He grows, the story goes down smooth and puts a thoughtful glow on your face when you have to do other stuff like work or sleep, and it's generally a fun ride. He rambles just a touch less, unleashes just a bit more, and the side characters have grown into a tight little fellowship full of loves, hatreds, and betrayals you've come to love to scratch at like old scars.

If you haven't read the others yet, I would, starting with either Cold Hearted or Siren Song, and save this one for the fourth on your reading list, because it really is a culmination, even though there's a pretty big showdown still coming. In fact, a lot of people have a lot coming to them, and Yancy's just about ready to dish it out.

Awesome addition to the series, and looking forward to the rest of this arc and the start of the next one.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

[I received a copy of this book through Netgalley.]

Still an original setting, one that makes use of less known supernatural/folklore creatures (such as Sasquatches—I don’t think I’ve seen a single vampire yet in this series, and this is refreshing). We also find again some of the previously involved characters, such as agent Ferraro, Yancy’s old Vietnam comrade Greg, and James from the Guild, along with unlikely allies in the person of, well, Bigfoot and his daughter (he’s not named Bigfoot, although Yancy keeps calling him Kong, for want of being able to remember his full name). To be fair, at times I preferred these two Sasquatches, once they got past their tendency to refuse to explain their real reasons.

Some of the action scenes were pretty interesting. There’s a curious ‘battle of the bands’ at some point, mixing music with combat, and that isn’t something I’ve often read. Other such scenes left me quirking an eyebrow, though, like the one with Cassius. I quite dig Cassius, but I’d like to know more about him, apart from the little Yancy tells us about him, and the fight scene I’m thinking about, the one at the end, was… OK, I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to make of it. It was fun in a WTF way, but it jarred with the rest of the UF/supernatural-oriented action. I think a little less action in parts would’ve been good here.

This book tended to annoy me more than the previous ones when it comes to Yancy’s personality, though. I’m all OK for the grumpy, no-strings-attached guy who prefers to live in his car, but the way he acts at times is much too childish for someone with so many years of experience, and especially so many battles and betrayals behind him. I guess this is why I particularly appreciated the moment when ‘monsters’ put him back in his place regarding ‘all the people they had killed’ vs. ‘did you ever wonder if the monsters you killed had friends and families?’

Conclusion: 2.5 stars, there are good things in this series, and the end paves the way for more, since part of the threat is gone, but not fully… and things could still go terribly wrong.

[Dolorianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The action/adventure is top notch in this series. Hunter's imagination and turn of phrase makes Yancy Lazarus a character worth knowing. I loved the folklore in this book. The first book was a great introduction to Yancy, and book 2 started laying the foundation for a much larger story, though I didn't realize it at the time. Book 3 is a continuation and has expanded the world even further, quite literally. And I like that Yancy's circle of friends is growing too. He was quite the loner at the beginning. I don't know what is planned for this series overall, but I'm really loving the ride.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I'm still giving Wendigo a like rating, now that I'm into the third book in the series it's getting a bit tedious. The originality of the bad guys and settings is here, but the bad guy has some similarities with the bad guy in 2. I'm getting tired of the insults Yancy uses. There's no reason for some of them so he just seems like a petulant 66 year old child sometimes. The fight scenes are varied, but each book has a lot of them and they're getting tedious.

I also thought that Cassius needed to be better explained, like how did he get where he is. Hunter frequently introduces characters and just gives us the barest drips and drabs in each book to explain the character. (Same with Ailia). I realize there are a couple of novellas I haven't read, but a little more substance and earlier in the novels would be nice.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in this fun and magical jam-packed with adventure series, and I am so in love with Yancy Lazarus, our blues loving, laid back character who just wishes for a peaceful life where he can enjoy his booze and his smokes and a game of cards when it is available but this kind of relaxed life is never on his cards it seems. Poor Yancy always gets roped into some supernatural goings on which he, as the fixer, is supposed to fix and this adventure is nothing less. He is stopped by a bigfoot chief and roped into tracking another bigfoot who has turned rogue, and a cannibal to boot, is trying to oust the chief and replace him, and is working with some real bad supernatural characters which Yancy and his friend the FBI agent Nicole Ferraro have encountered before. In this book Yancy, Ferraro, Greg and James plus the chief and his daughter Winona, cross into the realm of the unfettered over which Lord Arawn of the Black Lodge rules, and boy he is one crazy loon. They gate-crash a private party, where the sirens are providing the entertainment but this soon turns into a battle of the bands and a war zone to boot. As usual Yancy sticks his neck out even though it isn't really his battle, like the crazy goon that he is! And the choice he makes is one which would change his life forever. I cannot wait to read book 4 as this character is so much fun to read about.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after Two-Faced because this author has a unique talent. He can reference events from previous books and give you enough information so you can understand the current book without reading the previous books while not slowing down the current book. The references to the events in Two-Faced made me curious enough that I grabbed this book so I could see Winona's whole story and I was NOT disappointed.

The book was fun and wild and creepy and full of action. I split my time between curiosity, laughing and being on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next.

The only reason this is a 4 star not a 5 star is that I like Winona better than Yancy so this book suffered by comparison to Two-Faced.

But if you like a hard luck hero who sings the blues and keeps getting back up no matter how hard life and the universe knocks him down...you'll like Yancy. I plan on reading the rest if the series after I finish the Treesinger series.

[Fangs for the Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yancy continues to want very little from life. Ribs, whiskey, gambling and a drifter’s life. But he’s been dragged into an epic secret conflict no man with a conscience could walk away from

He also cannot walk away from angry Big Feet who need his help. Mainly because they’re super fast and willing to wreck his car and his skull to make him co-operate

Despite a less than auspicious introduction, Yancy finds that the same insidious evil he has been hunting has its tentacles here as well – and the future of more than the Big Feet rest in the balance.



We know the pattern of a series like this. With every book, the current plot will feed into the greater meta plot, we will have epic confrontations each feeding into more epic confrontations to come. Great powers will be raised, will be fought and our heroes will emerge bloodied and not entirely victorious – but they will have pushed back the dark for now and emerged a little stronger, a little more powerful, and, yes a little more epic than they were before

It’s a pattern I’ve seen repeated numerous times – and gods do I love it. I really really do – so long as you can walk that shining line between the epic and the Gary Stu/Mary Sue. So long as the plot is more than just a slug fest (which this series doesn’t do that well with) and so long as the world is one epic playground in which all the awesome can be displayed – which this book certainly does do.

We have an epic world, an ever more epic conflict, lots of blood-fizzing fight scenes all with a decidedly noir bent that it actually pulls off at least 80% of the time (hey, a well maintained Noir is a wonderful and rare thing to find – but usually they try too hard). Yancy manages to be just a bit too unlikeable (there’s the gruff rogue antihero and the outright arsehole and he flirts along that line just a bit too much), but in all, all the ingredients I love are right there and this series has gone from one I was relatively indifferent about to one I will be following to the bitter end.

It also has sufficient quirks to make it special as well – I kind of love Lady Luck, the entire concept of her, her influence that always helps so very much – but not nearly as much as you’d like. Because of course, she’s bound by rules. And equally of course, she breaks them. She is Lady Luck after all. Or maybe not break, but there’s a lady who likes her loopholes

On the third book in the series I find myself with the same old problem. I like the action. The action is good. The action is interesting. That action is well paced and well written and exciting and you can see all these epic fights raging across the book. They’re really really really well done and these action scenes dropped in any other book would be so very awesome in any other book

But not in this one because, again, there are just too many. Over and over and over we have fight scenes. We have struggles. And sometimes just wonder why is everything so hard? I mean the whole opening scene where Yancy meets the Chiye-tanke we have a battle. We have a long, unnecessary fight scene between Yancy and his upcoming allies and… why? Whyyyyy? And even if there was an initial misunderstanding why did we have to go full on war zone? Why is Chief Chankoowashtay the leader of his people and this incapable of communicating coherently and sensibly with people? And why in the name of all that is sensible does Yancy have to smart mouth his way through every encounter trying to provoke a fight ALL the times. We’ve said it before in relations to a lot of oh-so-strong female protagonists and it equally applies here: your character is not tougher or stronger because they can’t stop wise cracking and disrespecting everyone around them. It’s tiresome, it’s annoying, it slows down the plot and it makes me kind of dislike Yancy.

The only redeeming element of all this is Ferraro, who is awesome in so many ways. And one of the things she does so well is constantly call out Yancy for his bullshit. When he is wallowing in angst and moping, Ferraldo is there to say he is pouting and acting like an utter manchild. She is there to slap him down for abandoning her, for centring his emotion, for constantly snarling and snapping at other people, for moping. Ferraldo is repeatedly there not to coddle his precious sadness or anger or issues, she is there to drag him out and make sure he gets through it. That’s not to say she’s unfeeling, she can and often is highly sympathetic


This is a perfect counter to so much of Manpain trope we see. Yancy gets to have pain and suffer – but his pain is no more special or important than anyone else’s. When he begins to centre his pain or allow his angst or issues consume everything else, Ferraldo is there to call him out on this. And not just Ferraldo, often the world setting, the plot and Yancy’s own musings can equally step in to say that Yancy is wrong here. Even with things like epic moments in his history are made more nuanced and complex with the Sirens’ own history and explanation of their actions and position and exposing that Yancy’s complete condemnation is too simplistic

In so many ways this is excellently necessary because Yancy runs the risk of becoming a common form of Gary Stu. He has big awesome powers, he is so super important and he’s picking up more powers in this book as well. His is a trap that Harry Dresden often dips in, Atticus Sullivan just avoids and Deacon Chalk absolutely wallows in: male leader characters who are so utterly awesome at what they do that they badly need to counter their view points/power. While Yancy approaches this whole issue, the fact that Ferraldo and the world are constantly correcting him, contradicting him, setting him back is an excellent counterpoint.


Read More

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe that I lost this in my TBR pile! Yancy Lazarus is a mage, ex Marine, a fixer, nobody to mess with, and the king of snark. This time he is called upon by the chief Bigfoot to contain a major problem. Lots of twists, action, amazing knowledge of multicultural lore, and the best kind of thrill ride! The publisher's blurb gives hints and clues, and there is no need for spoilers here. The characters certainly are and the plot is fast moving. I love it!
Charlie Kevin is more than well suited to the role of narrator for Yancy. He's got the attitude, cadence, and super snark down to a science.

[Jessie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from James Hunter

This installment of Yancy Lazarus's story was great; I think James Hunter improves with each novel. The character building and scene setting are enthralling, while the pace of the book keeps the reader going, wanting, nay needing, to know what comes next. On top of all this, the author has Bigfeet, yes that is the plural of bigfoot, as a main player...just wait until you learn the truth about these peaceful people. You also may then understand why they are so hard to find.
Highly recommend this book!

[Loren Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winona Ain't Just for Wyatts' No More!

Break out the Big Guns!

The Big Games Afoot! Sass the Squatch Big, That Is!

When The Whole Hogg is Flying, Watch Out for That Which is Falling!

More Again than Sirens are Calling!

Will Yancy have the Heart for It?

Will his A Dooring El Camino Survive?

Read It!

[Donraj · Rating 4 out of 5]

And this is where the series starts to really come into its own. It still has the lingering feeling of trying to be a knock-off Dresden Files, but more and more it succeeds in putting its own spin on it. And the larger overall plot of the series is starting to come through.

[Justjeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the twists continue.

Someone is playing a long game and Yancy is the instrument of fate, maybe..... Now off to read book four with a side of I cannot wait for the Audible of said book... Because Charlie Kevin rocks as our narrator.

[Nick Harriday · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one to death and can't wait to start book 4! I'm a big fan of this modern fantasy genre and Yancy Lazarus is rapidly becoming a favorite character (sorry Daniel Faust). Would highly recommend it to anyone who has read similar books.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendigo Rising

Another rip roaring episode in the life of the blues loving, ribs eating mage Yancy Lazarus. The action and description are first class, and the snark as clever as always. A good read.

[kim caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the crazy mix!

Bigfoot, demons, court of the fae, guns and murderous mayhem! Just what we expect in the everyday life of Yancy!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best one yet.

[debbie ragan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Love these books. Yancy is a true hero , unwilling to admit it. The books are humorous as well as thrilling.

[O.E. Tearmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a hero whose response to adventure is a roll of the eyes and a mutter of 'oh here we go again.' And a hero who then gets down to kicking magical ass, with creative curses galore.

[Dena · Rating 3 out of 5]

audio; 3.5*

[Seantheaussie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 70% due to boredom.

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters that James writes are people you want to know. They are the people who make you laugh or can piss you off at the drop of a hat. Yancy has been gifted with a group of true blue, trust worthy friends, or has he?! Some one has been betraying the Guild and he has a clue that just might mean it is one of his own. He's teamed up with Agent Ferraro again but he is playing this one close to the vest just like the Wendigo that have brought their problems to him.

Another roller coaster ride adventure that leaves you wanting more!

[Matt Ely · Rating 5 out of 5]

original review @ JC's Book Haven.


They might’ve been homeless methheads, but that didn’t give anyone the right to tie ’em up, hold ’em against their will, and treat ’em like animals. Like slaves. Anger reared up inside me like some mean-ass mama bear watching someone mistreat her delinquent, wayward, druggie cubs. Let’s face it, I’m basically a dirt-caked hobo myself, so these were my people.

The Good
What can I say, Yancy has become one of my top 5 favorite characters to read about. He's rough around the edges and while full of sarcasm he's pretty straightforward in his actions. Plus, he has a knack for fighting the strangest creatures with extreme consequences hanging in the balance. I really love the banter between Yancy and pretty much anyone he tries to hold a conversation with for more than 2 minutes. By the way they talk, you would think him and the chief have known each other for years. The variety of monsters showing up in this series really leaves me hungry for more. Most often it’s just vampires and werewolves and if you're lucky a ghost of some sort. With this series, you'll be eager to turn the page and see what pops up next. One last thing I really love about the series is while it builds upon the last book they never end in crazy cliff hangers.

The Bad
I was left with a question regarding a particular magical item. A certain crown, hopefully in the next book we will get filled in as to what happens to it.

The Romance
Well Agent Ferraro is back and that means tension with how their last encounter ended up. Plus should I mention Co-ed hot springs?

Conclusion
Overall, I loved getting lost in this story. It brings plenty of memories from the first two novels while standing strong on its own. Between the different types of beings showing up and the wild magic items, I love to see new books for this series. I really can't get enough. The world itself has an amazing magical feel and the fact that you can end up anywhere at any given time is fantastic. If you like urban fantasy and haven't started this series, do yourself a favor and start it already.

[Owen Wilkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendigo Rising, by J. A. Hunter.

I have been a big fan of the Yancy Lazarus series from the start, and the third instalment not only lived up to my expectations, it pretty much dwarfed them. With each novel, Hunter’s writing has gotten stronger and stronger, building on a great start with Strange Magic, carrying on the overall arc through Cold Hearted, until here, with Wendigo Rising, we have a richly imagined, detailed world all of the author’s very own creation.

There are some superbly original points to the story – its settings and characters, of course – but also its charm and wit. Hunter writes with references to pop-culture, which, as a child of the eighties, totally spoke to me, as a reader. And, the pacing of his story had me ripping through the pages to discover just what would happen next. I would strongly suggest buying the first two books first, as although they stand alone as great stories, you’ll want to see the whole plot unfold and experience all of the twists and turns.

So … what is it about?

Pursuing his investigation into how-he-knows-how-the-world-will-end, Yancy is waylaid by a Sasquatch with a problem … a Sasquatch-sized problem. It seems, one the peaceful giants of the forest has developed a taste for flesh of a sentient kind and has enthralled the rest of the clan into threatening a nearby human settlement. Against his will (and better judgement), Yancy is forced to discover the cause of the Wendigo’s hunger. He pauses in his duties as an agent of Fate, only to discover the two cases may well be related and part of a bigger picture. Enlisting the help of some old friends, Yancy follows the trail almost to the gates of Hell itself (literally!), and learns who has been behind the coming apocalypse, all along.

A fast-paced novel of magic, gun fights, sarcasm, and all round ass-kickery. If you like novels that keep you reading way past your bedtime, then I strongly recommend buying it.

The novel was given to me as an advanced reading copy in exchange for a fair and honest review … and I meant every word!

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sasquatch! Yancy Lazarus meets Big Foot. How could I not love this book.

Yancy has charmed me from the very beginning. Not by his looks, he’s okay. Not by his smoking and drinking, does way too much of that. And definitely not because of his behavior. But, in spite of it.

Now, he’s teamed up with a sasquatch who needs his help. Seems one of his kind has gone off the rails, munching on flesh, cannibalizing his own species, and liking it too much.

Now, these beings like their privacy. They’ve managed to stay secluded, with everyone believing they don’t exist. One rogue sasquatch could put them on the front page and here comes the hunters. Not good at all.

In comes the big bad Wendigo. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another, and the state of Montana may be one big ghost town if Yancy doesn’t take care of it.

If that isn’t enough, Yancy’s still trying to stop the supernatural beings and their plans for armageddon.

When I wasn’t snortin with laughter, I was talking out loud. Cheering Yancy on. The poor guy just wants a break. Some time off to smoke, drink, and jam some blues. Not today, Yancy

As with the first two books, I ate this up. The author kept the suspense ramped up, threw in some new supernatural beings, put Yancy through the wringer, and continued to make me laugh.

I’ve been thinking about who should play the part of Yancy if there were a movie. I’m going with Russell Crow or Gerard Butler. Picture them in Gladiator and The 300.

Still lovin Yancy Lazarus, and still wanting more.

I received this book for my honest review.

[eden Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

People throw around “this was a genuine pleasure to read” a lot, but this was, in all seriousness, a genuine pleasure to read. Hunter has really hit his stride with this one. The voice, tone, pacing, emotion, and action—Wendigo Rising is firing on all cylinders. And the story kicks so much butt that I’m pretty sure it used to be a 'roided out MMA fighter in another life. Crazypants battles, traipsing through pocket dimensions, fae courts, and axes mundi, and suicide missions out the wazoo. Nothing in this story happened the way I thought it would, but when it all came together it felt so right that, looking back, there was no other way it could've gone.

I absolutely hate where this is going for Yancy. You know his future’s going to be dark—like dark times darker to the darkth power. Honestly, I get a little queasy thinking about it. Maybe that's the best and worst thing about this story—the feeling that all the characters I love are heading toward their doom with no way to turn back or stop moving.

But maybe the best thing about Yancy is that he doesn't dwell on that. Yeah, bad moons are rising, things are about to get dark, and people are going to start marching for the gallows. We the readers are welcome dwell on that if we want to, but if there are some ribs and blues and good times to be found in the interim, you know where Yancy's going to be. Laissez les bon temps rouler while they still can.

[Michael Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Hunter hits another home run with Wendigo Rising.

No spoilers here, but if you want to talk details, ask.

I picked up volume 1 not knowing what to expect, but the premise sounded interesting. In volume 3, as with volumes 1 & 2, there is a great story and great characterizations with lots of snark from Yancy including some excellent one liners. We learn a little more about Yancy's past and many of his "friends", more about the "Vis" and see the overall story arc gets move along nicely. This story can stand on it's ow,n but no question it wetts your appetite for the next book in the series.

These books are fun and great entertainment.

You've gotta love a "hero" who just wants to eat ribs, have a smoke and listen to good music, but when duty calls and somebody has to save the world ....

I "read" the audiobook versions and have been reading audiobooks (and radio dramas since the 70s). The narrator selected for the books is perfect; combined with James' excellent writing, the imagery these tales create in your mind is fantastic!

If you are a fan of paranormal fantasy/mystery/thrillers and looking for something a little edgier than the (excellent) Harry Dresden series, trust when I say that you are definitely missing something special if you're not reading the Yancy Lazarus series books.

[Henry Lazarus · Rating 3 out of 5]

James A. Hunter tells of Yancy Lazarus, a former marine in Viet Nam who did cold work for the Mages guild until they let the Fae take his girl friend. Known as the fixer now, he is a powerful mage, expert at fighting very powerful magical beings. Strange Magic (ebook) has him face demons called forth by another mage. He is framed by two gangs in California and has to fend off their attacks before facing down the mage behind his problems. In Cold Hearted (ebook) a weak mage unable to join the guild is given a ring with the spirit of an ancient vampire and uses his new abilities to attack the mages who refused him membership. Yancy touches the blood of a murdered mage and finds himself blocked from using magic.. Only working with an FBI agent Nicole Ferrero, and traveling to an alternate future filled with Zombies, can he find Sir Galahad and the Grail can he be cured. Lots of fun. The third adventure has him helping the old chief Sasquatch and his daughter deal with Wendigo Rising(paper from Create space and ebook), and evil Sasquatch with a magical tiara that lets him control other Sasquatch. He and agent Ferrero and his other friends have to find the fates in the fae world to learn how to stop the Wendigo. The series is lots of fun. Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press

[Geneva Handleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

And onward to the next episode. I am really loving these books! Yancy is awesome. Funny as hell, sarcastic, annoying, and a pretty decent mage, even if he doesn't beleive it himself.

This episode brings back some old favorite characters and introduces some new ones, while moving along on the timeline quite a bit. We get more clues and more confusing hints both, so its still plenty of suspense and mystery amid all the chaos and fight scenes.

As an independent reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock, Yancy is still a full five fangs in my book! Can't wait for the next book!!!